You can listen to this week’s Devotional here
Author: Kajsa Teitelbaum
And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matt. 4:19
Every Sunday morning, we have the opportunity to sing and praise God together in our services. Depending on the season or occasion, the music style and character will vary, and hopefully support the overall message of each service. Music is a gift that we can use in so many different ways – to praise God, relax and meditate, to celebrate important milestones, entertainment at concerts and sports games, and/or to fill an empty space, just to mention a few. But in order for music to reach its effect, we need musicians to create, to arrange, to gather ensembles, and to perform. What is your role in the music you experience around you? Are you “only” a consumer, or would you be open to exploring other channels as well?
Peter knew his trade well. He knew everything about fish and fishing, how to maneuver his boat, how to untangle his nets without breaking them. He could read the waters and the winds. His life was predictable, he knew what to expect each morning as he got out of bed. Then one day he met Jesus, and he gained completely new perspectives, and decided to leave everything behind.
I am not asking you to do what Peter did and leave everything behind (and how does one even draw parallels between fishing and music?) Well, Peter did have the courage to step outside of his comfort zone and try something completely different. I invite you to do just that, to look at the FCC music program with new eyes (or ears) and give some thought to what it would feel like to participate, other than as a hymn singer, on Sunday morning. Lack of experience – or, you might add – a singing voice, is not a problem at all. Singing in a choir actually means training your ears more than your voice. We listen to the singers around us so that we can match their tone, vowels, timbre, and dynamics. And we do this not only so that we can match the singers around us, but so that we can support them with our voices as well. By adding our voices to the group, we help create a fuller sound and multiply the joy of singing together. And, just like the body of Christ needs people of all skills, ages, and experiences, a choir needs people with different musical backgrounds, ages, and vocal qualities.
If you look at the choir roster you will notice that very few choir members are professional musicians, but most of them are volunteers with little or no musical training outside of the choir. We practice and learn together, we support each other when the music challenges us, we laugh together all the time, and we cry together when times are hard. And more, we realize that when we make music together, we grow closer to God and each other. So, here is your chance to step outside of your comfort zone as well, to look at a new way of participating and praising God, a way of being a worship leader alongside the FCC staff. Why not take it?
Dear God, please open my mind and heart to be brave enough to step outside of my comfort zone and praise you in new ways. Let my voice be an instrument for your love and peace, and may it join others on this path as well. In your name I pray. Amen.